[sims] Nova T6

[speckytecky]

We recently had training toward making better use of SIMS. Specifically we want to running the timetable and class registers through it. However, we now realise that to achieve this we need to buy in Nova T6 to achieve this. From training courses our Admin staff have been on they have picked up that Nova sometimes does not work happily with the rest of the SIMS package - what's the feeling toward it here please? Edited March 28, 2012 by speckytecky

[Sivadam]

.... From training courses our Admin staff have been on they have picked up that Nova sometimes does not work happily with the reast of the SIMS package......

I am afraid that is the biggest piece of baloney I have ever heard.

 

NT6 is an integral part of SIMS. It produces the Timetable exactly as you want it. This is then transferred to SIMS and everything that is scheduled in NT6 will be there ready for use! The Timetable via NT6 is the basis for every bit of SIMS! So how can the two be unhappy with each other?

 

You do need a Timetabler that has attended the 3 day NT6 Course, especially with Dave Andrews, though (yeah ok - I haven't! But that's another story!) as it is impossible to dive in to using NT6 effectively without training!

Edited March 28, 2012 by Sivadam

[vikpaw]

T6 is fine. They may have been picking up on idle chatter regarding the old nova, i.e. some of the reporting not being as good or flexible as it used to be, or certain side features, like cover, parents evening stuff being changed. The core function, timetabling is getting better and better, especially with the latest iteration.

 

I'd find out what specifically didn't work.

[Linfit]

I have been timetabling with Nova for several years and am also our MIS manager. I can honestly say that there are no iteroperablity issues at all. In fact, Nova is one of the better

bits of the SIMS suite, mainly because they don't try and tinker with it too much: (they have added new functionality relatively slowly and the base software was good anyway) and its data sits outside the main SIMS database.

That is not to say that you can't get yourself in a hell of a mess if you don't know what you are doing; its a steep learning curve and getting some proper training and then doing some careful planning of workflow is essential:

importing a broken timetable is one of the most comprehensive ways of breaking SIMS there is.

Edited March 28, 2012 by Linfit

[Soulfish]

importing a broken timetable is one of the most comprehensive ways of breaking SIMS there is.

+1 to this. Happened at my last school. Made trying to roll out lesson monitor "fun" and took a lot of fixing!